Thanksgiving Day and the Christmas season are times when we consider the blessings of life. From the gifts of family and friends, to the gift of a Savior born in Bethlehem, to reconcile us to our heavenly father. While we certainly give thanks for the gift of food on the family table and gifts under the Christmas tree, it is the gift of relationships that I am most thankful for at this time of year.

Sherando UMC Fire Report  Over the past two weeks VUMC and Aisle 7 have raised over $1,100 to help the congregation at Sherando UMC rebuild after their devasting fire a few weeks ago. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. We will continue to raise funds through the end of December.

Pray for the revival to keep going! Churches everywhere are rebuilding their worship services after the impact of Covid restrictions since March 2020. At VUMC we have about two-thirds of our worshiping congregation back and, at Aisle 7, about half. We hope everyone will ask God in prayer if it is time for their return to in-person worship…

We can share our blessings with the Sherando congregation during this month of thanksgiving. Simply make your check out to VUMC with the notation “Sherando UMC” and place it in the offering plate, bring it by our office, or mail to VUMC, P.O. Box 47, Verona, VA.

Nov. 28  Shawna H. 8:30/ Chad Brown 11 (1st Sunday- Advent)

Dec. 5   Bob Weeks 8:30 / David Gordon 11

Dec. 12  Shawna Hiner 8:30 / Judith Cariker 11

NOTE: CANTATA & SERMON AT ALL SERVICES on 12th

Dec. 19  Bob Weeks 8:30 / Joy Tinsley 11   

Dec. 24  Shawna Hiner at Aisle 7, 5PM (Christmas Eve)

               Bob Weeks at VUMC 7:30PM (Christmas Eve)

Dec. 26  Larry Wills 8:30 / Larry Wills 11:00

Jan. 2    Chad Brown 8:30 / Chad Brown 11:00 

We now have all three worship services taking place on a regular schedule: 8:30 & 11 at VUMC and 11 at Aisle 7 Fellowship. Starting this Sunday, Pastor Bob and Pastor Shawna will preach on alternate Sundays at the 8:30 service. Lay Speakers will continue to preach at our 11:00 services through January 2nd. Please contact the church office at 248-7777 if you can help or have questions.

of their work." (from I Thessalonians).

You can mail your donation (P.O. Box 47, Verona, VA 24482) or drop it by the VUMC office. We will also collect donations for our annual church staff Christmas gift on Sundays, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, & 12/19. We have 15 persons on our staff who dedicate themselves daily to serving in the example of our Lord Jesus Christ - your gift will be evenly divided among all staff. Place your check or cash envelope in the special offering plates as you enter the church labeled "Staff Appreciation."

It is extremely helpful to our donation counters if you use your giving envelopes. This makes their process much faster and easier. Please pick up yours today!

Join Our

In a time of pandemics and spiritual and physical challenges, we need prayer! Please join us in the VUMC sanctuary on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. Questions? Call the church office at 248-7777.

With motions from both the Church Trustees and Finance Committee, the VUMC Church Council unanimously approved the creation of a dedicated fund for "Food Pantry Renovations" at their July meeting.

Contact Carey Harlow at harlowbill7@comcast.net

Dec 2021 Youth Calendar  

Nov 24 Ezek 32‐33, 1 Pet 1

Nov 25 Ezek 34‐35, 1 Pet 2

Nov 26 Ezek 36‐37, 1 Pet 3

Nov 27 Ezek 38‐39, 1 Pet 4

Nov 28 Ezekeli 40, 1 Pet 5

Nov 29 Ezek 41‐42, 2 Pet 1

Nov 30 Ezek 43‐44, 2 Pet 2

We lift up all who have recently lost loved ones. We pray for Susan Allen and family with the passing of her mother, Jo Curtis. We pray for Ray Smith. We pray for Judith Cariker and family with the loss of her sister, Nancy. We lift up the family and friends of Teresa Blum with her passing. We also lift up Barbara Breeden's niece, Brandy who had surgery to remove a blood clot. We pray for healing for Deb Powers, Carolyn McFaden and her husband Don, Frances Johnson and her son Steven and for Charles Cook.

We lift up Teresa Munoz, Virginia Altizer and Louise Lockridge for healing. We lift up Louise Lockridge's nephew, Joel Funk, with cancer. We lift up Dennis Myers in progressive care at VCU. We pray for Jeff and Chris May. We continue to pray for Judi and Bridgette Edwards with cancer. We lift up Bobby Breeden with a broken hip. We continue to pray for Wilma Shuey. We pray for Mike Thompson with severe glaucoma. 

LAST WEEK'S CHALLENGE: This Greek word, sometimes used to refer to Holy Communion, literally means "thanksgiving."

A majority of respondents were correct - "eucharista" was the Greek word we were looking for. "Agape, Parakletos, and Ekklesia were the other options.

Please Remember VUMC in Your Giving

Our office has prepared free VUMC church directories (without photos) to make sure we all have updated information on addresses and phone numbers. Pick up your church directory update Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and noon until 3 p.m.

We are seeking volunteers of all ages. The food pantry is open every Tuesday from 9 until 11 a.m. and every other Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Please contact the church office at 248-7777 if interested.

The Verona Women's Circles join together as a support group of women who love God and one another. They are very interested and willing to serve in mission opportunities. (Meetings are generally the 3rd Monday of each month.)

The unit has books they would like to share with all the members of VUMC! These are books in a variety of subjects that have been enjoyed by women in both circles of the UMW in past years. Titles such as "I Love Growing Older But I'll Never Grow Up," "Eleanor, A Spiritual Biography" (about Eleanor Roosevelt), "Wild in the Hollow." You can find these books in a box on the table in the main entrance area. More books will be added to this box as space in the box allows!

Verona UMC Child Day Care If you or a friend are looking for excellent children's day care in the Verona area, our day care has a new website with registration and additional information. Go to veronadaycare.com

Worship with VUMC on Facebook

If you would like to help with Salt & Peppers

in a leadership role, please contact the Church Office.

We are looking for people to organize and run the Salt & Pepper Committee.

The former committee members will not be resuming the

Salt & Pepper activities, so if this ministry is to continue

we will need new leadership.

It's easy to support the Verona Community Center when you shop on Amazon. Just go to smileamazon.com and search for and select Verona Community Center Inc. Every time you make a purchase Amazon will donate .5% (one-half of a percent of your purchase cost) to the Verona Community Center. As of November 2020, our community center had received $159.20 in Amazon Smile donations.

Doug May has posted a new list of projects on the Helping Hands Ministry section of the bulletin board near the upstairs entrance of the church, The current list contains only projects for a member of our church who lives on the same street as the church. Most of the projects are small and could be taken care of by one or two people in a short amount of time. If you would like to take on one of these projects, call the church office for contact information for the homeowner, work out a time, and place your name beside the project on the posted list. Please let Doug know if you are interested in any of the projects or would like more information:  email: dougem@outlook.com

Training is provided. Contact the church office (248-7777) to volunteer and/or for further information.

     To donate to Disaster Response in the United States, including fires and flooding, make your check out to Verona UMC with the notation: UMCOR Response #901670 . 100% of your donation will go to U.S. relief efforts.